05.02.09
Posted in Reviews at 11:43 am by Administrator
This collection of six short stories was a pleasure to read.
So begins a review of the Make Me A Match Volume I Anthology over at Lily’s I Love Books Blog.
She has something great to say about every one of the stories in the Anthology including this comment on Third Times the Charm – This was a sweet romantic little story!!
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The review then finishes off with the following recommendation- To sum it up, I really enjoyed all six stories, something that doesn’t always happen when I read an anthology. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading Volume 2 soon.
I’m very pleased she enjoyed it and hope she finds Volume 2 lives up to her expectations.
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03.16.09
Posted in Reviews at 9:35 pm by Administrator
There’s a new review up at Rainbow Reviews for the Reflections of Love Anthology . My thanks to Clare for the shout out.
Overall Review of the anthology:
From new relationships to long time loves, this anthology of stories revolves around the romantic holiday Valentine’s Day. Some men are anxious for love, others are trying to rekindle lost love and still others are looking for love just for the night. The stories range from sweet to scorching hot with something for every romance lover. Standouts are easily “Don’t Shoot the Messenger”, “Milestones”, and “Under Protest”. These alone make the anthology worth reading and went solidly on my favorites list while the others offer a varying array of hot and sexy men sure to please any palate.
Review for Milestones
Milestones by Chrissy Munder
In this absolutely lovely story, Jeff and Devon have been together for five years but after the first few years, they both let work and individual focuses divert their attention from their relationship. While the impetus for this seems to be Jeff’s singular dedication to his business and less and less on Devon and their relationship, Devon’s willingness to go along with Jeff without speaking up certainly did them no favors. It takes an enterprising employee of Jeff’s with some well placed advice to turn these men around and put them back onto the road to happiness in their relationship. The love between Jeff and Devon was clear as was the sense of loss they both felt at the current state their relationship slipped into. I loved the honest emotions of both men and the reminder that all relationships take effort, perhaps the most when your attention is elsewhere.
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03.04.09
Posted in Reviews at 10:38 am by Administrator
Just like with our children we authors have characters and stories that are our “favorites”. We aren’t supposed to have them, we try to love them all the same but it still happens.
One of my “favorites” is the short story Brush with Desire. So, I am always pleased when someone new reads it and then tells me they enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
Here’s a new review from Well Read :
Overall: This story fairly sparkles with humour and wit. Brian’s sympathetic viewpoint and self-depreciating personality make this ‘BDSM-lite’ story very amusing as well as engrossing. There is a feast for the senses as the author describes in detail the smells, sounds, looks and tastes that Brian encounters during the liason with Dale, adding to the sexual tension, which starts small and is slowly increased as the story progresses. I’m not usually a fan of BDSM, but the way that the author describes the emotions that Brian encounters, made me understand why he would wish to take on the submissive role. I’m giving this a grade of ‘Excellent’ and would highly recommend it to anyone with a spare hour or so.
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02.18.09
Posted in Reviews at 2:07 pm by chrissymunder
I’m pleased to share some new reviews for a couple of the anthologies I have short stories in. Be sure to click on the reviewer’s link for the full review.
Sandra over at Night Owl Romance reviewed the Make Me a Match Volume Two Anthology and had this to say about the anthology overall:
Make Me a Match Vol 2 was overall a good and interesting anthology. I really enjoyed most of the stories.
and
Being that you get quite a few stories in this book it’s a great value. I plan on keeping this one and reading it again. I’ll also recommend it to others.
and Jenre or at Well Read reviewed the new Reflections of Love Anthology and had this to say about Milestones:
Chrissy Munder always writes a great story and I wasn’t disappointed here.
and
What made this story work for me is how realistic it was in showing how easy it is to allow life to get in the way of love and also how all relationships have to be worked on if they are going to thrive.
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02.02.09
Posted in Reviews at 1:59 pm by chrissymunder
The start of the month is always grand as new reviews show up and I get to hear that someone enjoyed one of my stories. That makes my day.
Here’s some new ones – please click on the reviewers link for the full review:
Hearts and Flowers – Reviewed by Brett at Rainbow Reviews – (4 stars) A truly delightful short story and a quick read. As the book title suggests, this story is cute, humorous, and sweet. The only “flaw” by my estimation is the slightly forced and hurried interactions with the therapists the main character goes to see. This is hardly detrimental for the story because of the fast pace and size. A fully enjoyable read that I recommend.
Thank you Brett, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hearts and Flowers was also Reviewed by Whitney at Fallen Angel Reviews -
Jesse Pearce is a CPA with a very unsatisfying personal life. His therapist tells him that he has intimacy issues, and he’s not going to argue with that. Veteran of several divorces, he has come to the conclusion that he simply prefers men to women. Not that it matters, anyway, since he hasn’t seen action of any kind lately. It’s downright depressing. When Jesse’s assistant rescues an adorable puppy from the dumpster and brings it to the office for safe-keeping, Jesse insists that an ad be placed in the paper to find the pup a home before it can totally destroy the carpet in his office. Unfortunately, the ad is botched somewhere along the line, and instead of an ad for a puppy, a personal is placed in the paper with Jesse’s telephone number as the contact. But how unfortunate is that, really? The voice on the other end of the phone call that Jesse answers is warm and friendly, and Jesse’s intimacy issues seem to dissolve into nothing but a memory.
Chrissy Munder’s short story Hearts and Flowers is a lighthearted visit with a man, a puppy, and a misplaced personal advertisement. As usual, Ms. Munder’s knack for characterization shines. Jesse, his assistant Dennis, his love interest Kyle, and especially the puppy Fred all spring to rich and colorful life within just a few pages. While we laugh a bit at Jesse’s sad-sack life, we still wish him well, and so it is with not a little bit of delight that we watch Jesse unwind enough to get tipsy and flirt on the phone with a complete stranger. We have already been introduced to the stranger, Kyle, so we know that he will make a perfect complement for the conservative Jesse. Of all the characters, it is the puppy Fred that steals the show. All wriggling body and shiny black nose, Fred is more than just a depositor of faintly odorous stains upon Jesse’s floor. He is the catalyst that brings the story together. Even those readers who aren’t “dog people” will have their hearts stolen by this cuddly canine.
In all, Hearts and Flowers will leave a smile on your face, and that makes the story more than worth the read. Good show, Ms. Munder!
Thank you so much Whitney!
Whitney was busy this month as she also reviewed A Gift of Ash and Frost:
Mathias Oakes is the son of the village whore. The oldest of seven children, he makes his living with his strong back and watches the world through quiet and stalwart eyes. When the new owners of the local manor called the Grange advertise for temporary help over Christmas, Mathias applies in hopes of making enough money to feed his family for a season. The local reverend calls his new employers “abominations,” but Mathias has neither the time nor the inclination to worry about what he means. Although the work at the Grange is heavy, Mathias enjoys his life there. He doesn’t expect the fascination and attraction that he feels for his supervisor, Mr. Mason. When he finds that the owners of the Grange are what are called sodomites, he is surprised but not offended. He feels a certain kinship with them and finally begins to understand the truth about himself. Just as the object of Mathias’s desire appears to be in reach, an act of hate and violence tears through the Grange on Christmas Eve, and the aftermath could very well destroy all Mathias holds dear.
Chrissy Munder’s A Gift of Ash and Frost is a holiday-themed short story about a young man’s journey of self-discovery and his realization that although he may not fit the mold imposed upon him by society, honesty is preferable to self-delusion. This is an engaging read with characters that are well-developed in spite of the shortness of the story. Mathias quickly captures the sympathy and affection of the reader, and although less time is spent with the secondary characters, we still get to know them through Mathias’s eyes. Throughout the story, Mathias repeats his mother’s philosophy: Be careful what you wish for. In the beginning, this is a negative and somewhat self-defeating adage that suggests that reaching for something above one’s station in life will lead to disaster. At the end, however, this takes on an entirely different connotation, as Mathias realizes that being true to himself can actually lead to positive results. Readers picking up A Gift of Ash and Frost should expect an enjoyable experience. This story is well worth the read.
Thank you! Whitney!
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Posted in Reviews at 1:58 pm by chrissymunder
Stormy Weather now available in print and ebook in the Make Me A Match Anthology Vol. 2 has received 4 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs Reviews .
Critter Nymph (love the name) says: “Stormy Weather by Chrissy Munder (4 Nymphs) is a hilarious look at computer dating. This enjoyable read will have you chuckling more than once. Who knew ordering an edamame salad could be such an experience?”
I’m so glad Critter Nymph enjoyed this story as well as the others in the Anthology.
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